Duchy of Lancaster Methwold C of E Primary School is a small educational institution located in Methwold, Norfolk. The recent inspection conducted on 19 and 20 October 2022 revealed that the school requires improvement in overall effectiveness, quality of education, and leadership and management, while it received good ratings for behavior and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. The school has a total of 99 pupils enrolled, and it operates under the Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust.
Pupils at Duchy of Lancaster are generally happy and confident, enjoying their time at school and forming positive relationships with their peers. They exhibit good behavior, particularly during social times, and older students take on a mentoring role for younger pupils, fostering a supportive environment. The school prioritizes attendance and has effective procedures in place to address absenteeism.
In terms of academic performance, the school has made strides in teaching phonics, particularly in the early years. Reception children engage in phonics lessons enthusiastically, often taking on teaching roles themselves. However, there are concerns regarding the support provided to key stage two pupils who struggle with reading. These students do not receive timely interventions, which hampers their progress in becoming fluent readers. The curriculum delivery is inconsistent, with some teachers not adhering closely to the planned curriculum, leading to gaps in knowledge and understanding among pupils.
While the school has a well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum in place, the implementation varies among staff. Teachers do not always adapt lessons to meet the diverse needs of their students, resulting in some pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities, not achieving their full potential. The expectations set by some teachers are not sufficiently high, which affects the quality of work produced by pupils.
Leaders at the school recognize the importance of reading and have established a consistent approach to phonics instruction from Reception through Year 2. However, the reading curriculum in key stage two is less effectively delivered, with pupils often selecting books that do not match their reading abilities. This lack of alignment contributes to a decline in enthusiasm for reading among older students.
The early years provision is a notable strength of the school, with leaders effectively developing the curriculum and outdoor learning areas. Children in Reception quickly adapt to structured activities and demonstrate cooperation and sharing skills. The school also excels in promoting personal development, offering various trips, visits, and extracurricular activities that enrich the pupils' experiences. Daily assemblies reinforce core values, and pupils demonstrate respect and tolerance towards others.
Safeguarding measures are robust, with effective systems in place to ensure the safety of the school community. Staff receive appropriate training to identify and report concerns, and leaders act swiftly to support pupils and their families when needed. Pupils feel safe and are aware of how to seek help if they encounter issues.
In summary, while Duchy of Lancaster Methwold C of E Primary School has several strengths, particularly in personal development and early years provision, it faces challenges in delivering a consistent and effective curriculum, especially in reading for key stage two pupils. Leaders must focus on improving curriculum implementation and ensuring that all pupils receive the support they need to succeed academically. The commitment of the trust leaders to high-quality education is evident, and with targeted improvements, the school can enhance its overall effectiveness.